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Archive for the ‘Body care’ Category

Care for Your Labrador Retriever – Feeding, Grooming, Exercise and Potential Health Issues

Also called Labrador or Lab for short, a Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed in the United States, United Kingdom and also Australia. They are the most popular as family pets, as assistance dogs and as detectives to assist policemen. Their almost insightful intelligence, sociability, keen sense of smell and trainability makes them the best candidate for drug and arms detection at airports and high security areas. The patience that this breed shows also makes them extremely good working dogs with people on wheel chairs or for pet therapy. A trained Labrador is one of the most dependable animals that there can be. They do not have any of the negative traits that some of the other breeds manifest and are free from territorial aggression, destructive nature, insecurity or pampered behavior.

Feeding and Grooming
The Labrador breed is the ‘foodie’ among dog breeds and they enjoy their food to the fullest. They eat almost anything that is placed before them – ice creams, biscuits, meat, cereal, dog treats and even scraps from the table. This tends to make them extremely susceptible to obesity and therefore a regulated diet is what you should limit the intake to. An overweight Labrador can become extremely lazy and slow. To regulate the quantity of food offered to your Labrador, it is important to note that a 60 pound Labrador requires about four and a half cups of food. The meal should have adequate levels of calcium, especially in the growing phase. This is important due to the heavy bone structure of this breed.

With average levels of shedding on normal days that gets heavier twice a year during the season, Labradors are easy to maintain. Brushing twice a week is required and you might need to use a soft bristle brush. This also activates the skin glands allowing for protective secretions. A bath is required only once a fortnight.

Exercise
Since the Labrador is a heavy eater, adequate exercise is a must for this breed. Swimming and retrieving are a Labradors favorite activities and playing fetch in a large park or the yard are good additional ways to exercise your Lab other than walks. This breed also enjoys the training process and therefore training should be base don rewarding more than punishment. It is important to understand that higher levels of exercise are required only once the dog is six months and older. Excessive exercising for young Lab pups can damage their bones.

Special care and health concerns
The life expectancy of a Lab is between 12 to 13 years.

- Hip or elbow dysplasia – Since the Labrador is a large breed, it is prone to hip or elbow joint dislocation and loosening. In this condition the dog feels uncomfortable while moving and can also experience pain and swelling. The severity of the pain depends on the level of movement, weight of the dog and extent of dislocation. Dysplasia can be treated with prescribed medicine and only in serious cases surgery is prescribed. Some Labradors can also suffer from luxating patella.

- Ear infections – All breeds that have floppy ears that are not cropped, ear infections can eb a major cause of trouble. This is because moist air gets trapped in the outer ear causing mites, fungus or bacterial infections. Prevention is better than cure and such instances can be avoided by cleaning the ear regularly with a cotton swab.

- Obesity – Since Labs are prone to overeating, they tend to gain excessive weight if the intake is not regulated. Obesity can increase the chances of dysplasia and also cause diabetes.

- Gastric troubles – Labradors are extremely prone to fall prey to upset stomachs, vomiting and loose stools from time to time. To maintain good gastric health, it is essential that only high quality commercial brands or home food be given to your pet.

- Swim tail – This is an extremely unique condition that Labradors may face, especially if your dog likes water. The tail basically becomes sore due to overuse and swells up and is akin to a ‘tennis elbow’. The tail develops a slight crimp but adequate rest can solve this issue relatively easily.

- Eye conditions – Older Labradors can develop retinal atrophy, cataract, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia.

Seeing your pet wobbling in pain due to arthritis can be heartbreaking. Every year, millions of dogs develop arthritis. The condition is most common among large and old dogs, and many people think that having arthritis in dogs is something that cannot be stopped. The causes of arthritis in dogs vary. Age is definitely a factor but this does not mean that arthritis is an inevitable fact.

The truth is, there are things that you can do right to make sure that your pet will not have to go through the pain and the suffering that comes with arthritis. All you need to do is follow some basic dog joint care practices to make sure that your beloved canine companion will not be hit by this dreaded condition.

Dog joint care practices are not only recommended for old dogs. In fact, there is a greater chance that a dog will avoid having arthritis if it has been provided with arthritis preventive care when it was still a puppy. Below are some dog joint care practices that you can apply to a dog regardless of age.

Feed your puppy natural and fresh food as much as possible. Diet is a very important factor in developing arthritis. Proper nutrients are needed for healthy growth and development of your dog’s joints and bones. Sadly, most commercial dog foods lack these necessary nutrients. This is why it is recommended that dogs be fed with fresh and natural foods whenever you can. This is the best way to ensure that your dog is getting the proper nutrients and avoiding the chemicals and preservatives that are usually found in commercial dog foods.

Maintain a healthy weight for your pet. Being overweight is also a factor in developing arthritis among dogs. Make sure that your dog stays lean by feeding him the right food in the correct portions and by making sure that he gets plenty of exercise.

Provide natural supplements. Food supplements containing potent herbs are very effective in keeping the joints of your dog healthy. These supplements can also greatly reduce the pain that your dog is feeling.

By following the dog joint care guidelines above you can make sure that your dog will be running and jumping until old age.

The premaxillary portion of the facial bones (the upper jaw) just below the nose may protrude or recede too much for an attractive appearance. While some correction can be obtained from an orthodontist, if the malocclusion is severe, maxilloplasty, the surgical recession or advancement of the bone itself, may be advisable. This surgery needs extensive care than most cosmetic surgery procedures. While it does in fact improve the patient’s appearance, maxilloplasty does not generally come under the heading of cosmetic surgery. Rather, it is sometimes considered reconstructive surgery because of its function, namely, proper occlusion of the teeth, is nearly always involved.

Severe malocclusion may also be corrected by mandibuloplasty, the resetting or advancing of the mandibular (lower jaw) bone. Frequently, the addition of bone, cartilage, or some type of silicone implant is used to bring the chin forward to achieve better facial balance.

This surgery is often performed in conjunction with a rhinoplasty, making possible the use of the bone and cartilage removed from the nose for the reconstruction of the chin. As an additional procedure accompanying a face lift, it is especially valuable to the individual whose chin has receded excessively because of the premature loss of the lower teeth.

Chin surgery (mentoplasty) is undertaken under local anesthesia unless it is necessary to obtain bone from some other part of the body. The incision is made either inside the mouth or just beneath the chin, where the scar will be inconspicuous. The incision beneath the chin is used for the removal of excess bone to reduce an excessively long or prominent chin. After the operation, the patient is limited to a soft diet for about ten days. While complications are rare, a nerve may be damaged, producing numbness and lack of mobility of the lower lip either temporarily or in rare instances permanently. Another postoperative complication may be the deviation (separation or slippage) of the material inserted. This is corrected by a secondary adjustment.

The appearance of some women is enhanced by malarplasty, the augmentation of the molar eminence of the cheekbone. Bone or block silicone is inserted to achieve greater prominence of the cheekbone. The incision may be made in the mouth, through the lower eyelid, or behind the hairline in the area above the ear. A pocket for the insertion of the implant is created by separating the overlying tissue from the bone beneath. If the inserted material drifts, it may create a grotesque effect. In thin individuals, it may be apparent on close inspection.

Six months after surgery, recovery is usually complete and the maximum effect on appearance is attained. Of course, there are individual variations due to heredity, age, quality of the skin and general health. At that time, additional minor surgical correction may indicated in order to achieve optimum results. In the 40 to 50 age group, the time at which this surgery is most commonly undertaken, both the skin and the underlying adipose (fatty) tissue have already begun to lose their elasticity. The facial and cranial bones have began to decrease in size. For these reasons, among others, not all wrinkles can be removed and a face lift should not be undertaken with that expectation.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has it. So does Sally Field and even the ever youthful and gorgeous Gwyneth Paltrow. “It” is osteopenia – a condition that is a precursor of osteoporosis, diagnosed by a measurement of bone density.

We have always believed that poor bones were the result of a calcium deficiency and calcium tablets are one of the best selling supplements on the market. Parents of children with rickets were advised to give them milk, and the Milk Marketing Board has a powerful advertising lobby. But fracture rates are much lower in under-developed countries where fewer dairy products are consumed than in the West.

Now a new book, based on a review of 1200 studies on osteoporosis, has concluded that a high calcium diet, even supplemented with vitamin D, essential for absorption of calcium, did not lead to a reduced incidence of fractures. (See Building Bone Vitality: a Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis, by Amy Lanou, Ph.D and Michael Castleman, published last year by McGraw Hill.) What made a difference in bone density, they found, was a diet rich in fruits and vegetables – in other words, avoiding acidic foods like meat, fish, and refined carbohydrates. When acidic foods are eaten, calcium is leached from the bones to neutralize the PH balance of the body. The same effect contributes to the build up of calcium in the arteries in the formation of atherosclerosis.

This is not to suggest that calcium and vitamin D are not important in bone health but rather that it is a complicated issue and there are other factors involved.

Dr. Christiane Northrup, well known for her PBS programs and her books on women’s health, recommends a full program for building strong bones, including weight training and weight-bearing exercise such as walking, bicycling, and stair climbing; avoiding soft drinks especially colas and root beer which have a high phosphate content; avoiding smoking, alcohol, and caffeine; dealing with depression which causes an increase in stress hormones that cause bone breakdown; and ensuring an adequate intake of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, manganese, and boron, as well as calcium.

Like everything else in our complex bodies, the issue of brittle bones is not simply a matter of calcium and vitamin D.

“My doctor told me that my osteoporosis is better–so I don’t
need to exercise,” said a resident of the senior apartment
complex where I teach strength classes twice a week.

Obviously she doesn’t understand what osteoporosis is
and what to do to counteract it. Let’s review the facts. Bone
is active, living tissue that is constantly being built up in your
body by cells called osteoblasts and constantly being
broken down by cells caused osteoclasts. The idea is to
build up new cells while replacing the old.

People with osteoporosis have weak, thin fragile bones
because their bodies have not kept up with the rebuilding
process. Weak bones are likely to fracture and osteoporosis
causes 1.5 million fractures per year in the US. One-third of
women over 50 will have a spinal fracture in their lifetime. In
women with osteoporosis, spinal fractures can occur from
sneezing or heavy lifting. Multiple spinal fractures can lead
to severe changes in posture and appearance. Walking
becomes difficult and painful, and the compression can
cause difficulties and problems with the internal organs.
Other symptoms include fracture of the hip or wrist or loss of
height. I have had people in my strength training classes
who had lost several inches in height because of
osteoporosis of the spine. They are usually in almost
constant pain.

According to the National Institutes of Health, ten million
Americans (80-90 percent of them women) suffer from
osteoporosis. Fortunately most doctors are aware of the
dangers of osteoporosis and recommend tests to check
your bone mineral density. These tests reveal whether you
currently have osteoporosis, and can predict your risk of
bone fracture. The tests are painless and usually take 15
minutes or less. The equipment uses very low
radiation–less than an x-ray–which passes through the
bone to measure its density. The results of the test can be
helpful if you and your doctor are deciding whether
medication is right for you.

When tests are taken at 1-to-2-year intervals, the information
can help monitor changes in your condition. If your doctor
does not order a BMD test at your annual physical, please
talk to him about it.

Now the good news–there is much you can do to protect
your body against osteoporosis.

Hormone replacement therapy used to be recommended to
help slow down bone loss. But studies link hormone pills to
heart risks. In one study, heart attack risk was about 70
percent higher among women taking the pills who were two
decades past menopause or had levels of LDL cholesterol
above 155.

There are drugs available that slow the process in which
your body tears down bone. There is even a prescription
drug which needs to be taken only once a month. Space
prohibits me from describing here the different drugs which
accomplish this, but if density tests show you have
osteoporosis, talk to your doctor and if he or she prescribes
a drug which will help slow bone loss, take it.

Since bones are living tissue, they are as dependent on
proper nutrition as any other part of the body. Dietary factors
that contribute to bone loss include a Western diet of
processed foods, carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, and high
protein, sugar, and salt consumption. Excess animal
protein and excess phosphoric acid from soft drinks
probably head the list of offenders.

You should make sure your body gets enough calcium,
magnesium and other minerals plus vitamin D each day so
it will have the raw materials it needs to build new bone.
Recommended calcium daily intake for those under 60 is
1200 mg per day and 1500 mg over 60. There are different
forms of calcium available in supplements. Calcium citrate
is more easily assimilated by older bodies than calcium
carbonate. Dietary sources of calcium include milk, yogurt,
broccoli, collards, bok choy, kale, sardine and tofu with
calcium sulfate.

If you decide to take supplemental calcium, you should
know that your body needs much more than just plain
calcium–it must balance with magnesium. Some experts
are not yet convinced but my studies have led me to believe
that your body needs calcium/magnesium in a ratio of 2/1.
Carolyn Dean, M.D., author of The Miracle of Magnesium
has convinced me that most of us are deficient in
magnesium and that our calcium supplements must
include magnesium. It is found in cooked spinach, white
beans, brown rice, raisin bran, shredded wheat, almonds,
artichoke, oatmeal and nonfat yogurt.

Your body must also have vitamin D in order to utilize
calcium. The best vitamin D is made by your body by being
in the sun. I recommend that you spend 15 to 20 minutes in
the sun each day in addition to taking a supplement that
contains at lease 400 I.U. Recent studies indicate that older
adults need 800 to 1000 I.U.

Bottom line: when you go shopping make sure you get
calcium in a product that contains half as much magnesium
as calcium. It should also contain vitamin D and boron plus
other trace minerals. There are excellent products available
in health food stores.

Last, but certainly not least — exercise is necessary to help
prevent and reverse osteoporosis. According to a study
done at the University of Arkansas, the two most effective
forms of exercise to prevent osteoporosis are weight lifting
and gardening. A study done by Miriam Nelson at Tufts
University in Boston found that women who participated in a
weight lifting program for a year gained two percent in bone
mass. The control group that did not exercise lost one
percent. I have had many students in strength classes tell
me that their bone density is improving.

I cannot recommend too strongly that you participate in strength training. Join a fitness center and learn to use the
machines or work out in the free weight area. If you find that
too intimidating, you can exercise at home. My book “Over 40
& Gettin’ Stronger” contains a simple workout using only
dumbbells. I’ve recently added an audio CD so you can
listen to me guide you through the workout. Go to www.
strongover40.com for information.

You are not sentenced to suffer from osteoporosis. There is
much you can do to prevent and reverse this dreaded
disease.

Osteoporosis treatment guidelines encourage adequate calcium and vitamin D intake even when osteoporosis medication has been prescribed. Many bone health specialists now recommend much higher vitamin D intake than the official recommendations…as well as additional vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin K and strontium.

Doctors will often prescribe some form of medication when a patient has been diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. But the U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) advises that everyone get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D regardless of whether they are using osteoporosis medication. Many specialists also advise patients to add other essential minerals and vitamins to their osteoporosis treatment program and to get more than the recommended levels of vitamin D.

The following osteoporosis treatment guidelines go beyond the basics to provide a richer program for building strong bones.

1. CHOOSE YOUR CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT

For adults over fifty, the recommended levels of vitamins and minerals required for healthy bones are as follows:

1,200-1,500 mg of calcium 1,000 IU of vitamin D 120 mcg vitamin K 320 mg of magnesium (420 mg for men)

Enriching our diets with bone healthy foods is always the first step in building an osteoporosis treatment program. Supplements can be used to reinforce a good diet and provide an “insurance plan” that the recommended levels are achieved each day. Getting all of these vitamins and minerals in two tablets a day is the simplest and most convenient way of acquiring the recommended intake. This is possible with calcium carbonate…which has slightly greater absorption than calcium citrate when taken with meals.

2. MAINTAIN ADEQUATE BLOOD LEVELS OF VITAMIN D

Vitamin D plays an essential role in helping us to absorb calcium into our bones. However, studies in the U.S. (NHANES) and Canada have found that approximately 75% of North Americans suffer from vitamin D deficiency for at least part of the year. Fifteen minutes in the sun will not provide sufficient vitamin D for many people…and certainly not in the winter for people living north of Boston.

Depleted vitamin D levels not only limit calcium absorption but can also compromise the immune system. The Vitamin D Council is encouraging people to be proactive about protecting their health by increasing their vitamin D intake and monitoring adequacy through regular vitamin D blood tests. For people in northern regions, the following program is recommended for inclusion not only within osteoporosis treatment guidelines but for the prevention of a variety of diseases.

Late Fall and Winter: 5,000 IU Early Fall and Spring: 2,000 IU Summer: 15-20 minutes of sunshine mid-day
3. ADD VITAMIN K2 TO YOUR OSTEOPOROSIS TREATMENT PROGRAM

A high quality bone care supplement will often include vitamin K1…which is most effective at supporting healthy insulin levels. Vitamin K2 is more effective at ensuring that calcium stays in our bones and out of our arteries.

There are many forms of vitamin K2 but MK-4 and MK-7 have proven most effective at reducing bone fractures and improving bone density. The manufacturers of MK-7 claim that their supplements provide superior health benefits because the vitamin K2 remains in the blood longer than MK-4. This claim has not yet been substantiated through a published research paper.

A year’s supply of 100 mcg Vitamin K2 (MK-4) will cost approximately $25 while a year’s supply of 90 mcg Vitamin K2 (MK-7) will cost approximately $80.

***Note that people taking blood thinning drugs such as Coumadin or Warfarin should consult with their doctor before taking a vitamin K supplement.

4. BUILD BONE QUALITY WITH STRONTIUM CITRATE

Pharmaceutical companies have conducted extensive research showing that strontium can improve bone density 8%-14% when taken with sufficient calcium and vitamin D. Although prescription strontium is not available in North America, there is no evidence that pharmaceutical strontium produces better results than the strontium citrate found within a health food store or on-line. Strontium is best taken on an empty stomach and away from calcium supplements, as calcium can reduce the bioavailability of strontium by 60-70%.

A year’s supply of strontium citrate will cost approximately $150.

5. ASSESS THE ROLE OF PROGESTERONE IN YOUR OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION PROGRAM

The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) revealed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes. But it also reported a significant decrease in the rate of hip fractures amongst women taking HRT. As HRT refers to a group of medications that artificially boost hormone levels through the use of estrogens, progesterone (or progestins) and sometimes testosterone-there is growing interest in hormone treatments amongst women who experience rapid bone loss after reaching menopause.

Although there are no large double-blind, placebo controlled studies to prove the effectiveness of progesterone treatment, smaller studies suggest that the hormone should be included within osteoporosis treatment guidelines, especially for post menopausal women. Dr. John R. Lee, is best known in this field for his study of 100 women over three years and finding that progesterone helped to increase bone density by 3-5% each year while estrogen provided no additional benefit.

A year’s supply of progesterone Cream will cost approximately $90-120 in Canada and the United States.

6. EXERCISE! EXERCISE! EXERCISE!

Strength exercises are an essential part of all osteoporosis treatment guidelines. Finding an exercise program that we enjoy is the most important consideration…because that is the one that we will continue throughout the years needed to build stronger bones.

It isn’t necessary to buy expensive equipment or a gym membership to get the exercise we need. Walking, tai chi and dancing are wonderful ways to keep fit. It is also possible to buy a wide variety of fitness DVDs that we can use in the comfort of our own home. Entire fitness programs can be purchased for less than $100.

SUPPLEMENTS DON’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE

The supplements listed with the osteoporosis treatment guidelines don’t have to be expensive. Producers of specialty formulas rarely produce scientific evidence that their products are worth a premium price. Generic supplements that meet recommended levels for healthy bones are often used within scientific research and have been shown to support improved bone quality and bone density.

In addition to investing in generic supplements, United States residents can often reduce the cost of their osteoporosis treatment program by buying prescription medication on-line from Canadian companies. Canadians can reduce their costs by buying vitamin and mineral supplements on-line from the United States.

The above osteoporosis treatment guidelines are not intended to replace prescription medications but to support the effectiveness of the medication. Investing in the recommended levels of calcium, vitamins and minerals will help to prevent fractures and hip replacements… keeping us active and free of bone fractures as we age.

For information on affordable supplements that are part of the osteoporosis treatment guidelines visit http://www.osteoporosis-vitamins.com/osteoporosis-treatment-guidelines.html